Stuffing-wheel



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1;

G. HULSIEMANN. STUFFING WHEEL.

110.461,01). Patented Oct. 13,1891.

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I. 1...@ 1f L AWT' (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. HULSEMANN. STUPPING WHEEL.

No. 461,019. Patented Oct. 13,1891.

VNrTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GERHARD HULSEMANN, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

STU FFI NG-WH EEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 461,019, dated October 13, 1891.

y Application led April 16. 1891. Serial No. 389,189. (No model.)

.To all whom t may concern:

Beit known that I, GERHARD HULSEMANN, a citizen ot' the United States, residing` at Cincinnati, Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Stuffing Wheels, of which the following is a specitication My invention relates to stuiiing-wheels employed in treating leather with grease and other matters which, by absorption under proper conditions of heat, &c., permeate the cellular tissue of the leather, rendering the same soft and pliable. The stuffing-wheel now commonly employed is substantially a drum, into which the sides of leatherareintroduced, together with the stufiin g material, (composed of tallow, oil,an d other in gredients,) rendered liquid by the heat maintained during the process. The containing-wheel being revolved upon its axis, the leather is carried up at the sides and tumbled by its gravity, thus by attrition and repeated exposure of new surfaces causing the liquid ultimately to saturate the leather. It is essential to the proper result that the interior of the wheel and the contained materials shall be maintained at a moderately high and even temperature, since too great heat burns or chars the leather and too little impairs the fluidity of the stuffing liquid and fails to open the pores of the leather sufficiently for proper absorption and interpenetration. It is also essential that the contained air be neither so dry as to desiccate the leather nor so moist as to deposit an excess of moisture therein, either condition being detrimental to the result, as tending to impede the penetration of the oleaginous and fatty materials of the stu tting. e

1n machines heretofore used of the type as to which my present invention is an improvement the interior of the drum and leather therein are kept at the desired temperature by means of heated air forced therein While the drum containing its charge of leather is being rotated, the air being heated in a fur nace en route from the blower or pump to the wheel, into which it is introduced by a small pipe. In the use of the apparatus referred to it is necessary to introduce the air at a comparativelyhigh temperature in order to raise the temperature of the large volume of air and the mass of contained material Within the drum, thereby frequently scorching the leather by direct contact. Moreover, as the wheel is in revolution it is impracticable to attach an efficient thermometer thereto or at any point where it gives a proper indication of the temperature Within the wheel as a guide to maintain the same at the desired point. This difficulty attaches to all machines of this class as heretofore used.

In my machine the results arc much improved and the construction is simplified and cheapened. l mount the drinn upon hollowr trunnions considerably enlarged, through which a large body of heated air is introduced and maintained in circulation, and connect the opposite trunnion-apertures by a boxconduit of like liberal dimensions carried downward and across the base of the wheelstructure at one side, an'd place in one of the .vertical legs of the box-conduita nest of steam-pipes extending over into the horizontal portion of the conduit. Asteam-blast nozzle is introduced at the bottom of the heat ing-pipe system, which may be used upon occasion to stimulate the movement of the air-column while stuffing. The same air is thus used over again, being Withdrawn from one side of the wheel and reintroduced at the other, the normal motive force for maintain2 ing the circulation being the heat restored to the air-column in its passage in the ascending leg of the conduit around and in contact with the steam-pipes, aided by its gravity when cooled in the opposite descending leg. There is thus formed a continuous passage of con- 1 siderabledimensions, connected through the wheel. A bulb thermometer placed in the boxing opposite the exittrunnion of the wheel gives always a correct indication of the temperature within the wheel, as it is directly within the body of air emerging therefrom and immediately at the point of exit. The cubical area of the box-conduit being approximately equal to or even greater than that of the wheel and heat being applied to the entire column of air in its passage through the conduit, the temperature within the wheel is easily maintained at a comparatively uniform point with no danger of overheating. As the movement of the air-column is comparatively slow, it may be necessary upon occasion, in order to maintain the temperature against IOO loss of heat by radiation, to stimulate the flow byasteam-jet. Anymoisturethusintroduced, being thus distributed through the entire volume of contained air does not condense in or upon the leather in appreciable quantity and practically maintains the desired proportions against natural loss. For the purpose of cooling off, in case too great heat is attained, (which might occur through careless use of the apparatus,) openings in the boxing, preferably at the sides opposite the trunnions, are provided, furnished with hinged doors, Which may be further provided with glass panes, through whichthe interior of the drum and its contents may be inspected, as a guide to the introduction of further stufiing'imaterial, when required, without stopping the rotation.

Some of the benefits of my invention may be derivedfrom the application to other types of stuffing-wheels of the enlarged hollow trunnions enteringa boxing at one or both sidesfor example, to drums carrying heating pipes or devices as part of the drum .mechanismthe facility afforded in ascertaining the temperature bya thermometer placed in the boxlng opposite the exit-trunnion being of advantage, and such feature alone I deem within the spirit of my invention. i

Mechanism embodying my invention isillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure l is a side elevation. with the side door removed to show the trunnion and the thermometer; Fig. 2, an opposite side elevation with the boxing partly sectioned to show the system of heating-pipes; Fig. 3, a plan section taken in the axis of the drum and omitting the pipes; Fig. 4, an external front elevation.

Referring now to the drawings, A desig# nates the stufingwheel ordruin, and B B its enlarged hollow trunnions supported in the usual manner upon the frame C. The wheel is rotated by gears a, a', driven by a bandpulley b from any convenientsource of power. The hollow trunnions B B extend axially through properstufling-box'es into a box-conduit D, continued horizontally beyond the supporting-frame C, thence downward to or below the supporting-door, and'thence across horizontally. In the vertical leg CZ thus formed at one side is placed a nest of steampipes p, arranged vertically in parallel lines with connecting bends and bent over in the horizontal portion of the conduit, as shown, forming an angle corresponding with the course of the conduit. A blast-nozzle n, supplied by a steam-pipe p', is introduced at the lower end of the system of heating-pipes on the ascending leg of the conduit. Valves e control the admission of steam to the heatingpipes and blast-nozzle.

The leather and stuffing materials are introduced into the wheel or drum A by the hand-hole a2, provided with a suitable cover. The inner lperiphery of the wheel or drum A may be provided with a series of radial pins or projections to assist the proper tumbling of the leather.y The operation is as follows: The Wheel, being first heated and the charge introduced, is revolved and the circulation of air maintained by the heat imparted by contact of the air-column with t-he -steam-pipesp in the ascending leg d and by gravity of the cooled air in the descending leg d at the opposite side. rlhe nozzle n may be used as required, its effect being enhanced by the introduction of the blast in the midst of thenest of steam-pipes p. A thermometer i" t, placed in the boxing opposite the exit-trunnion B', is thereby in the circulating-air colum-n emerging from the wheel and gives a correct indicationv of the temperature within the wheel. Hinged doors e e in the exterior Walls of the boxing opposite the trunnions afford aconvenient mode of cooling the interior in case of overheating, (which can only occur through inattention or carelessness,) and the steam-nozzle n furnishes a means of moving the 'air-column more rapidly when necessary to increase the temperature, as in starting or after introducing new material. An additional thermometer t may be placed in a corresponding position opposite the inlet-trunnion to enable the operator to regulate the temperature of the heated air introduced. In ordinary practice (depending somewhat upon the external atmospheric temperature) the natural levitation of the heated-air column' at one side, aided by the Weight of the coolerair column at the other side, will be suflicient to maintain the desired circulation of air, the action of the drum itself with the tumbling of the contained masses of leather securing a thorough distribution and mixing of the air Within the drum. A very minute steam-jet is therefore all that is required at any time, managed by the proper controlling-valve,to raise and maintain the temperature at any desired point. Sufficient moisture is also supplied thereby.

IOO

It will be obvious that the benefits of my chamber, .whereby the too-highly-heated air introduced is to some extent mixedwith the contained air of the drum before coming in contact with the leather, and at the other an exit-chamber in and by which the general temperature of the contained air is tested with a view to its proper regulation.

The same advantages would be realized by the same partial use of my invention inthose lIO drums in which the heating apparatus is con-` tained in a surrounding jacket or secured to the peripheryof the main drum, the external chambers communicating freely with the interior through the large openings formed by the enlarged hollow trunnions and aiording a ready means of ascertaining and regulating the temperature. I therefore deem such construction and use within the spirit of my invention.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patentof the United States- 1. In a leather-stuffing apparatus, t-he combination of a closed rotating drum having axial openings, independent hollow trunnions extending said openings outward, air-charm bers in which said trunnions rotate with approXimately-tight joints, mechanism for heating and forcing a current of air into one of said chambers, and an exit-conduit in the other of said chambers, substantially as set forth.

2. Theimproved leather-stui'iingapparatus embodying, in combination, a rotating stuffing-Wheel with independent hollow trunnions, a conduit connectingT said hollow trunnions 4:. In a leather-studi ng apparatus, the combination of a wheel having hollow trunnions, an air-conduit connecting the same from outside to outside at a lower elevation, a nest of steam-'heating pipes in the ascending leg of said conduit, and a steam-blast nozzle ar ranged in connection therewith, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. Y

GERHARD I-IULSEMANN.

\Vitnesses:

H. HAGEN, E. HosEA. 

